After a pair of well-received singles, Superchunk released Superchunk in 1990, a critically-lauded LP. In spite of the ensuing interest from major labels, Superchunk decided to stay independent, going with Matador Records for their second, just as critically-lauded LP, No Pocky for Kitty, followed by a collection of singles, Tossing Seeds and another pair of well-reviewed LP's, On the Mouth and Foolish.
Superchunk singer Mac McCaughan and bassist Laura Ballance decided to release future albums on their own Merge Records, which they had started in 1989. The band continued touring and recording, appearing on Lollapalooza and backing a minor hit in "Hyper Enough" (from Here's Where the Strings Come In). In 1999, Superchunk released Come Pick Me Up.
McCaughan was a member of Seam and has also recorded several albums as Portastatic. Initially a solo project, Portastatic has evolved into a full band, which currently includes Superchunk's Jim Wilbur as a member. Before forming Superchunk, McCaughan was a member of the Slushpuppies, Wwax, and Bricks.
In 2008, the band announced they would be performing live shows and working on new material. That new material manifested itself as 2009's Leaves in the Gutter EP, which was followed by a full-length in 2010.
In 2013 bassist Laura Ballance announced that she would no longer tour, due to a worsening hearing condition (hyperacusis). However, the band continues to release new material, including the 2018 album "What a Time to be Alive."
Detroit Has A Skyline
Superchunk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reached out for the phone (foam)
Drank my sleep from a can
Playing track 6 and track 7, again and again
I had a crush
Nothing works out
Well I had faith
Meet me again, maybe one mile high
Meet me again, and I won't flake this time
Meet me again, maybe a year from now
Meet me again, I think we both remember how
It was no architect designed this view
He could not have known about you
Mousy homes, catacombs
Detroit has a skyline too
Detroit has a skyline too
I had a crush
Nothing works out
Well I had faith
Could not have known; don't even say it
The lyrics to Superchunk's song Detroit Has a Skyline speak of longing and the possibility of missed opportunities in romance, while also noting the unexpected beauty of the titular city. The first verse describes a typical evening spent alone, finding solace in music and a canned beverage after reaching out to someone unsuccessfully. The repetition of tracks six and seven suggests a certain obsession with these songs that serve as a type of escape from reality. The chorus introduces the idea of a missed opportunity for connection, expressed through the singer's desire to meet the person again but with a promise not to flake this time. The lyrics then indicate a passing of time, with the suggestion of a rendezvous a mile high or even a year from now. The final lines of the chorus "Meet me again, I think we both remember how" express a sense of nostalgia tied to the missed opportunity.
The second verse adds an interesting layer to the song, as it highlights the beauty of Detroit's skyline. The opening line "It was no architect designed this view" implies that the city's skyline is not a creation of man, but rather a natural outcome of the city's development. This is followed by the assertion that the architect would not have known about the person the singer desires to see again. The final lines of the verse "Mousy homes, catacombs, Detroit has a skyline too" indicate a contrast between traditional notions of architectural beauty and the grittier reality of Detroit's neighborhoods. The repetition of the line "Detroit has a skyline too" suggests a certain pride in the uniqueness of the city in spite of its flaws.
Overall, the lyrics of Detroit Has a Skyline convey a sense of displacement, both in the realm of romance and in the city itself. The longing expressed in the chorus suggests a desire for connection that was not realized, while the description of Detroit's skyline speaks to the city's beauty and distinctiveness in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
As soon as I got home
Upon arriving at my house
Reached out for the phone (foam)
Grabbed the telephone (slang for foam)
Drank my sleep from a can
Consumed a beverage to help me sleep
Playing track 6 and track 7, again and again
Repeatedly listening to tracks 6 and 7 on a musical recording
I had a crush
I had feelings for someone
Nothing works out
The relationship with this person did not work out
Well I had faith
Despite this, I had hope
Could not have known; don't even say it
There is something that is painful to acknowledge, but should not be mentioned
Meet me again, maybe one mile high
Proposing a meeting in the air
Meet me again, and I won't flake this time
Promising to show up to the meeting
Meet me again, maybe a year from now
Proposing a meeting in the future
Meet me again, I think we both remember how
Confidently proclaiming that both parties will not forget how to meet
It was no architect designed this view
The view was not created by an architect
He could not have known about you
The creator of the view could not have predicted your existence
Mousy homes, catacombs
Describing the appearance of the neighborhood
Detroit has a skyline too
Acknowledging that Detroit has a unique view of buildings and cityscape
Detroit has a skyline too
Repeating previous statement for emphasis
I had a crush
Repeating the previous sentiment
Nothing works out
Repeating the previous sentiment
Well I had faith
Repeating the previous sentiment
Could not have known; don't even say it
Repeating the previous sentiment
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James August Wilbur, Jonathan Patrick Wurster, Laura Jane Ballance, Ralph Lee Mccaughan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@buff3dn3rf26
Superchunk is the best underrated band ever.
@DaveAnchovies
ahhh...every band is underrated on youtube. love 'em, but they aint underrated...maybe by stupid music writer, they have an army of devoted fans.
@pzuppardo1
This is a great performance. So much energy.
@jakedaniel4624
Laura is playing on the records still, but she has a hearing disorder from decades of rockin' out, so she's pretty much done with live gigs. That's Jason Narducy, who plays with Jon Wurster in Bob Mould's band. So they're tight as hell.
@rickbrust7928
I love how at 2:06 Mr.Wurster mouths "POW, POW!!!" As he hits. Amazing drummer. Passion AND skill
@patrickobrien376
And the slightly dragged snare role at 2:27 is super clever. So good.
@joelferry6856
need to see them live before i die
@cntrlalltdlt
Can wait 2 c u guys this weekend at riot fest!!! Dudes I sk8ted to ure tunes often ! much appreciated bro's!
@cranecams6784
F’king amazing.
@njbenj
SO SO SO Good!